BIOFUEL REVOLUTION

B20 biodiesel refers to the combination of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. This energy resource has already been introduced to the market and used to fuel basic diesel engines such as cars, trucks, buses, generators, oil-home-heating units, boats and even construction equipment. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that has successfully completed the Tier I and Tier II Health Effects Testing requirements of the Clean Air Act of 1990.

Biodiesel Defined

Biodiesel is a kind of fuel that is primarily derived from vegetable oils made of a variety of esters, distinctively identified as the monoalkyl esters. These vegetable oils generally come from soybean oil or palm, rapeseed, or canola oil. The process used to convert these oils is called transesterification.

Biodiesel Benefits

• Biodiesel can be used over and over again.
• Since biodiesel is practically carbon-neutral, studies show that emissions of carbon monoxide are reduced to approximately 50% and emissions of carbon dioxide are decreased by a whopping 78% based on their lifecycle. This is due to the fact that the carbon coming from biodiesel emissions is basically reused from the carbon already found in the atmosphere, whereas carbon in petroleum emissions is taken away right from the earth’s crust.
• Biodiesel is also shown to reduce the emission of particulates, which are the tiny specks of solid combustion products, by an estimate of 50% compared to petroleum diesel.
• Biofuel significantly contains less aromatic hydrocarbons, thereby reducing the amount of benzofluoranthene by 56% and benzopyrenes by 71%. Burning biodiesel fuel results in a popcorn-like smell.
• Biodiesel exhibits an exceptional lubricating characteristic which reduces engine wear by up to 50% compared to regular diesel; this is backed up by studies. Hence, biodiesel lengthens the life of diesel engines.
• Biodiesel has a relatively high cetane rating of above 100 compared to petroleum diesel’s 40 rating (or even lower). Cetane number refers to the gauge of the ignition quality of the fuel. High cetane rating, therefore, enhances performance including the engine’s cold starting and decreased noise when the engine is at rest.
• Biodiesel fuel is biodegradable and non-toxic, as demonstrated by various studies.
• Biodiesel can be made locally and creates jobs.

Biodiesel Fuel Resources

• An article about the myths of biofuel, or agro-fuel, and why biofuel is not a fix-all solution.
• View a list of articles about biofuel from Free Energy News.
• Article about the impact of biofuel on food costs.